The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie [95]
Something in Harry’s voice, a grim raillery, seemed to attract Sir Eustace’s attention. He stared at him.
‘Has it?’ said Harry again. ‘Sit down, Sir Eustace, and listen to what I have to say.’ Still covering him with the revolver, he went on: ‘The cards are against you this time. To begin with, listen to that!’
That was a dull banging at the door below. There were shouts, oaths, and then a sound of firing. Sir Eustace paled.
‘What’s that?’
‘Race–and his people. You didn’t know, did you, Sir Eustace, that Anne had an arrangement with me by which we should know whether communications from one to the other were genuine? Telegrams were to be signed “Andy”, letters were to have the word “and” crossed out somewhere in them. Anne knew that your telegram was a fake. She came here of her own free will, walked deliberately into the snare, in the hope that she might catch you in your own trap. Before leaving Kimberley she wired both to me and to Race. Mrs Blair has been in communication with us ever since. I received the letter written at your dictation, which was just what I expected. I had already discussed the probabilities of a secret passage leading out of the curioshop with Race, and he had discovered the place where the exit was situated.’
There was a screaming, tearing sound, and a heavy explosion which shook the room.
‘They’re shelling this part of the town. I must get you out of here, Anne.’
A bright light flared up. The house opposite was on fire. Sir Eustace had risen and was pacing up and down. Harry kept him covered with the revolver.
‘So you see, Sir Eustace, the game is up. It was you yourself who very kindly provided us with the clue of your whereabouts. Race’s men were watching the exit of the secret passage. In spite of the precautions you took, they were successful in following me here.’
Sir Eustace turned suddenly.
‘Very clever. Very creditable. But I’ve still a word to say. If I’ve lost the trick, so have you. You’ll never be able to bring the murder of Nadina home to me. I was in Marlow on that day, that’s all you’ve got against me. No one can prove that I even knew the woman. But you knew her, you had a motive for killing her–and your record’s against you. You’re a thief, remember, a thief. There’s one thing you don’t know, perhaps. I’ve got the diamonds. And here goes–’
With an incredibly swift movement, he stooped, swung up his arm and threw. There was a tinkle of breaking glass, as the object went through the window and disappeared into the blazing mass opposite.
‘There goes your only hope of establishing your innocence over the Kimberley affair. And now we’ll talk. I’ll drive a bargain with you. You’ve got me cornered. Race will find all he needs in this house. There’s a chance for me if I can get away. I’m done for if I stay, but so are you, young man! There’s a skylight in the next room. A couple of minutes’ start and I shall be all right. I’ve got one or two little arrangements all ready made. You let me out of the way, and give me a start–and I leave you a signed confession that I killed Nadina.’
‘Yes, Harry,’ I cried. ‘Yes, yes, yes!’
He turned a stern face on me.
‘No, Anne, a thousand times, no. You don’t know what you’re saying.’
‘I do. It solves everything.’
‘I’d never be able to look Race in the face again. I’ll take my chance, but I’m damned if I’ll let this slippery old fox get away. It’s no good, Anne. I won’t do it.’
Sir Eustace chuckled. He accepted defeat without the least emotion.
‘Well, well,’ he remarked. ‘You seem to have met your master, Anne. But I can assure you both that moral rectitude does not always pay.’
There was a crash of rending wood, and footsteps surged up the stairs. Harry drew back the bolt. Colonel Race was the first to enter the room. His face lit at the sight of us.
‘You’re safe, Anne. I was afraid–’ He turned to Sir Eustace. ‘I’ve been after you for a long time, Pedler–and at last I’ve got you.’
‘Everybody seems to have gone completely mad,’ declared Sir Eustace airily. ‘These young people have been threatening me with revolvers and accusing